The Word‪.‬ Christ Reformed Church in Washington DC

The fifth commandment prohibits murder and with it all forms of hatred, which it calls murder of the heart. The law thus reveals the deep sinfulness of our fallen hearts.

The fifth commandment teaches us that God rules us by many hands, parents, rulers, elders. 1 Peter 2 tells us that Christ is the model for this submission.

Jesus came to call sinners to repentance... which is a "change of mind" and a turning that leads to a confession of sin, forgiveness, and new birth of life in Christ. Luke 5 gives us a picture of that repentance in the call of Levi and the celebratory feasting of the kingdom of God.

Jesus continues to gather a kingdom people, sinners who are made well by the great physician. In this section, Luke emphasizes Christ's authority to forgive sins, cleanse from sin's polution, and heal of death and disease. These two miracles are presented as a proof to the priests, scribes, and Pharisees that Jesus is the Messiah who has the power of the Lord to heal in him.

In chapter 5, Luke turns from the word of Christ to the various responses that word generates. Peter's response is a paradigm for belief and discipleship. His confession of sin drives him to call Christ "Lord," and leads him to leave everything and follow him.

Luke 4 is introducing the public ministry of Christ as one that is centered on his word. This week he demonstrates the authority of that word by showing how it instantly drives out demons and disease -- a picture of his victory over sin and death.